Fruit seed-celling machine having automatic depth control means for cutter



March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET Al. 3,373,786

FRUIT SERD-CELLING MACRTNE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER v Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 n MMWR omc mAH.n wann mwmT. Of mmm QON www mom mmmbmm, mm O m mmm m9 N: E N Om mum N ON. mm o N N N o @@NN 9m f N m m \\w NM wm\ ON.` O O NON m (wm v NNN ...o .nv mmm m\ NN mmm \m ON. mmm \\Nv SN N .vmm [.mm /xoq vmm wm "IIA lx|| o mom Nm vmmf. 0mm NQ mmm mmm Oom mom Qq mmm mmm /ION ,o Il vv mm @Om Nm www Nm mOm mmm Nm d@ wmmm l Owm #mm l Mmm m L mmm o JMW/4 a Wn ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2. 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 4@ses 364 N a' E O g, E

g Ni q N N INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON ,-4- SHERMAN H. GREED m JOHN T. PARKER BY WW W ArroRNEY March 19, 1968 G, R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786 I FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHlNE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 62 y v W F'IE II o o 92 32s 74 90 8O 94 90.94 3682 "2 OO f 26o 296 30 @-l i o) l Egg 6 f' lliicggwnuuquy '26 B8 4 4 o 278 *28 274 '32 l INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. CREED JOHN T. PARKER ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,785

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC l DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. CREED JOHN T. PARKER March 19, 1968 G, Q ANDERSON ET Al. 3,373,786 FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. CREED JOHN T. PARKER ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL `FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE] HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. GREED JOHN T. PARKER BY www 0. W ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHlNE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets--Shee--il 7 I, 642 F'IE EI 37 INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. GREED JOHN T. PARKER ATTORNEY.

March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 INVENTORS GERALD R. NDERSON SHERMAN I'LCRE'ED JOHN T. PARKER www 0, m ATTORNEY 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 19, 1968` vG. Q ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 AIO SCS

INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. GREED JOHN T. PARKER i all/Laad., 0. W MTQRNEY y March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHlNE HAVING` AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 514 INVENoRs j GERALD n. ANDERsoN SHERMAN 1.o Een .JOHN T. PARKE WW 0' M ATroRNEY March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 1l E SHERMAN H. GREED JOHN T. PARKER N 7'" -m 'o m (QI w w O ma "1 0' Tv who w 23 asf ln N O L0 f m gj@ .Q

g" g Q,- i5 l 8 ql, a "f v (B01 XA l" Q Q Q Q m e Sa 9 9 f-I l d H INVENToRs www W- @u1/440m ArroRNE March 19, 1968 G.

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC OL MEANS IFOR CUTTER DEPTH Original Filed March 2, 1964 R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

CONTR 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 *Final-7A INVENTO GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. CREED JOHN T. PARKER afn/WMM* ATTORNEY,

March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

v FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHTNE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER original Filed Maon a, 1964 le sheets-sheet 1s INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN ".CREED JOHN T. PARKER um a @um ATTORNEY G. R. ANDERSON ET Al. 3,373,786 FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC March 19, 1968 DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets--Sheefl 14 INVENTORS GERALD R. ANDERSON SHERMAN H. OREED JOHN T. PARKER .YLIIIM m a Man( ArroRNEY SBO | \l @Lf-.B2

F' 'IEE 25J;

March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET AL 3,373,786

FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Orlglnal Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 lNv o n GERALD, n. ANDERSON sHERuA -H.cneeo JOHN 1'. Annen March 19, 1968 G. R. ANDERSON ET Al- 3,373,786

FRUIT' SEED-CELLING MACHlNE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Original Filed March 2, 1964 16 Sl'leets-Sheel 16 Own ovm ONM 00m ON Owm ovm ONN OON Om. Ow O ON OO.. O .Ow O ON O m0 mm INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,373,786 FRUIT SEED-CELLING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC DEPTH CONTROL MEANS FOR CUTTER Gerald R. Anderson, Campbell, and Sherman H. Creed and .lohn T. Parker, San Jose, Calif., assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif, a corporation of Delaware Original application Mar. 2,V 1964, Ser. No. 348,485, now Patent No. 3,310,084, dated Mar. 21, 1967. Divided and this application Nov. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 606,486

6 Claims. (Cl. 146--52) This application is a division of application Ser. No. 348,485, filed Mar. 2, 1964, now Patent No. 3,310,084.

The present invention pertains to apparatus forprocessing fruit and more particularly relates to an apparatus for orienting apples or the like, and for removing the stem material and the seed cell from each apple in accordance with the size of the apple.

The apparatus of the present invention, is arranged to adapt fruit preparation machines of the type disclosed in copending .application lof Gerald R. Anderson et al. Ser. No. $221,174, tiled on Sept. 4, 1962; and copending application of Gerald R. Anderson, Ser. No. 206,955, filed July 2, 1962, now Patents Nos. 3,199,558 and 3,246,676, respectively to handle apples rather than pears. Since many of the features ofthe present apparatus are similar to those disclosed in the above mentioned applications, only those features which are different and which constitute the subject invention will be described in detail.

In order to automatically remove the stem material and the seed cells from apples without removing an excessive amount of edible material from the apples, and without leaving portions of the seed cells within the apples, the apples must first be oriented so that they are supported either on their relatively llat stem ends or blossom ends, with their axes disposed in a substantially vertical plane. Since apples are not always symmetrical and the stemblossom axis of each apple is not always perpendicular to the apple supporting plane, in addition to the initial orienting operation, the stem-blossom axis of each apple must be accurately aligned immediately before the apple is engaged by a stemming tube and must again be aligned immediately before the apple is engaged by a seed cell, or coring cutter.

It is therefore one lobject of the present invention to provide apparatus for orienting apples so that the apples are supported either on their stem ends or on their blossom ends.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for orienting apples or the like either on their stem or blossom ends and thereafter removing the stern material and seed cell from the fruit.

` Another object is to provide an apple orienting apparatus arranged to orient apples either on their stem ends or on their blossom ends, and to move each apple to a predetermined feed position.

Another object is to provide apparatus for reliably transferirng oriented apples from a feed position into a carrier pocket of a processing conveyor while maintaining the orientation of the apples.

Another object is to provide means for centering an apple in a carrier pocket while maintaining its stemblossom axis substantially vertical.

Another object is to provide apparatus for seeking the cavities on each end of an apple so as to move the sternblossom -axis yof the :apple into exact alignment with the axis of a cutting tool regardless of whether or not the stem-blossom axis of the apple is parallel to the cutting tool when the apple is supported on one `of its ends in a carrier pocket that is aligned with the cutting tool.

Another object is to provide apparatus for controlling .ICC

the vertical position of the seed cell removing cutter, and the diameter of cut which the seed cell cutter makes in the apple, in accordance with the height of the apple being processed.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus for holding the apple from rotation during the seed cell removing Ior coring operation.

Another object is to provide a seed cell removing cutter shaped to serve as a re-centering tool Ias well as a seed cell removing tool.

Another object is to provide a device for washing the seed cell material from the seed cell of the apple after the seed gell has been severed lfrom the whole apple.

Another object is to provide means for positively discharging the stern material from the stemming tube.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the apple processing machine of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan of the machine of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 3 3 of FIGURE 2 showing the apple orienting and transfer mechanism.

FIGURE 3A is an enlarged section taken along lines 3A-3A of FIGURE 4 showing a portion of the orienting mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, generally horizontal section of the orienting mechanism taken along lines 4 4 of FIGURE 1, certain parts being cut away.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the transfer mechanism, certain parts being broken away.

FIGURE 6 is lan enlarged perspective of a portion of a main processing lconveyor showing an apple receiving pocket.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic vertical central section of an oscillating carriage and vertically reciprocable carriers supported by the carriage of the stemming and coring unit, the operating components of the unit being removed, and the carriers being shown in two operative positions;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical central section taken along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 2 showing operating components of the stemming and coring -unit mounted on the vcarriage and carriers of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective looking in the direction of arrow 9 in FIGURE 1 showing a fragment of the carriage and the structure for mounting the centering pins and recentering pins.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged 'fragmentary perspective looking in the same direction as FIGURE 9 and showing certain structure for controlling the actuation of the stem ejector rods, certain parts being broken away.

FIGURE Ll is an enlarged vertical section of the stemming and coring unit similar to FIGURE 8 but show-I ing certain of the operating components in section.

FIGURES 12 through 15 are operational views showing progressive steps in the stemming operation.

FIGURE 16 is a perspective of a fragment of the stemming and coring unit looking towards the rear of the iriachine, certain parts being removed.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged vertical central section through one of the coring units.

FIGURE .17A is' an enlarged horizontal section taken along lines 17A-17A of FIGURE 17;

FIGURES 18 and 19 are operational views showing the coring unit coring a large apple and a small apple,l

FIGURE 24 is a timing diagram for the transfer mechanism.

' FIGURE 25 is a timing diagram for the stemming and coring unit.

In order to 'better understand the features of the apple processing machine of the present invention, a general description of the machine will be given before the parts pertinent to the present invention will be described in detail.

The apple processing machine 20 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is a multi-lane machine adapted to simultaneously process a plurality of rows of apples, the machine shown in the drawings having eight lanes L. Apples are dumped in bulk into a multi-lane shuffle feed singulator 22 of the type disclosed in the copending application of D. W. Chamberlin, Ser. No. 174,118, which was filed on Feb. 19, 1962, and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The singulator 22 discharges transverse rows of apples into an orienting mechanism 24, a single apple of each transverse row being 4received in each longitudinally extending lane L. The orienting mechanism 24 shifts each apple to a stable position wherein it is supported either on its relatively flat stem end or on its relatively flat blossom end. The orienting mechanism 24 includes a spacing conveyor 25 that moves each transverse yrow of apples onto a dead plate 26 (FIG. 3) where each apple remains until gripped by one pair of a plurality of pairs of jaws 28 of a transfer mechanism 30, one set of jaws being provided for each lane L.

The transfer mechanism 30 is operated in timed relation with the movement of the orienting mechanism 24, the singulator 22, and a continuously driven apple processing conveyor 32. The jaws of the transfer mechanism 30 move in a generally elliptical path and transfer the associated apples from the dead plate 26 into associated ones of a plurality of apple supporting cups or pockets 34 formed in flights 36 of the conveyor 32. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, each flight 36 extends transversely of the conveyor and includes a plurality of the fiat bottom', generally dish shaped pockets 34 having centrally disposed apertures therein, one `pocket 34 ineach flight 36 being provided for each lane L. It will be understood that the con-tinuous operation of the singulator 22, alignment mechanism 24, andA transfer mechanism 30 will place an oriented apple in each pocket 34 with its stem-blossom axis disposed substantially vertical.

With the pockets 34 lled with aligned apples, the continuously moving conveyor 32 moves the apples into alignment with a stemming and coring unit 37. The apples are first moved to a centering station CS (FIGS. 1 and 8) where each apple is centered in its cup by a centering mechanism 38. The apple is then moved to a stemming station SS where the cavities or indents in both the stem end and Iblossom end of the apple are engaged by centering means to positively align the stem-blossom axis of the apple with an associated stemming tube 40 of a stemming unit 42 and `to hold the apple in this position until the stemming tube has penetrated a considerable distance into the apple.

After insertion of the stemming tube -40 completely through the apple, and removal of the stem material from the stemming tube 40 and the stemming tube from the apple, the apple is moved into a coring or seed cell removing station SCS. While at this station, the stemblossom axis of the apple is again centered and the rotating cutter 44 (FIG. 8) of the associated coring uni-t 46 is moved through the cylindrical stem opening in the apple to the vertical mid-point of the apple before being moved outwardly a distance suicient to remove all the seed cell material from the apple. The height of the apple being processed is used as a gauge to locate the midpoint of the apple and also lto determine the diameter of cut of the rotating seed cell cutter 44.

The cored apple is then moved to a washing station WS where all core material, if any, remaining in the cavity cut in the apple is removed by a stream of water under pressure directed into the apple through a washing tube 48. The cored apple is then discharged from the machine 20 by any suitable means such as a discharge conveyor 50.

As will be explained in more detail hereinafter the centering mechanism 38, the stemming unit 42, the coring unit `46, and the washing tube 48 are all mounted for vertical an'd horizontal movement on a swinging carriage 52. The carriage S2 swings over the conveyor 32 in such a way that each tool or unit is lowered, remains in alignment with, and moves at the same horizontal speed as the apple being operated upon while each unit performs its particular function on the apple. The tools are then raised and are swung back over the conveyor 32 before again *being lowered into operative position on the next following apples.

Since the mechanisms associated with each lane L are identical, wherever possible in the detailed description to follow reference will be made to the mechanisms associated with only one lane.

The orienting mechanism 24 (FIGS. 1 to 4) comprises an upwardly inclined door 60 (FIG. 3) with a downwardly inclined feed chute 62 integrally formed on the inlet end thereof and arranged to receive transverse rows of apples from the singulator 22. The tloor 60 and chute 62 are divided into lanes L `by upstanding guide Vrails 64 (FIG. 4)which serve to isolate the apples in each lane L from apples in other lanes. The iioor 60 and chute 62 are supported by upper inclined frame members 65 and'lower inclined frame members 66, one upper and lower member being disposed on each side of the machine. The inclined members 65 and 66 are bolted to upstanding legs 67 and 68 of a main frame 74.

While in the orienting mechanism 24, each apple is subjected to forces which tend to rotate the apple until such time as the apple assumes a stable position and comes to rest upon either its relatively flat stem end or its relatively at blossom end. Certain of these forces are applied to the apples in each lane by a pair of apple supporting, toothed conveyor belts 76 and 78 (FIGS. 3, 3A and 4) of high speed and low speed apple twisting conveyors -80 and 82, respectively. The upper runs of the belts 76 and 78 extend through elongated 'slots 84 (FIG. 3) in the tloor 60 and are guided along the inclined upper surface of a slide plate bolted to the oor. The high speed belts 76 are trained around toothed drive pulleys 86 set screwed to a shaft 88, and around driven pulleys 90 journalled on a shaft 92. Similarly, the low speed belts 78 are trained around drive pulleys 94 set screwed to the shaft 92 and around driven pulleys (not shown) journalled on the shaft 88. The shafts are journalled in bearings 98 bolted to the lower frame members 66, and the driven pulleys are held in desired axial position on their respective shafts and separated from the adjacent drive pulleys by washers 1110*. y

The high speed belts 76y are driven by a variable speed motor 106 which is connected to the shaft 88 by a belt drive 108, and the low speed belts 78 are driven by a variable speed motor 110 that is connected to the shaft 92 by a belt drive 112.

f In order to aid the belts of the high speed and low speed twisting conveyors 80 and 82 in rotating each apple until it assumed a stable position on one of its flat ends, and in order to maintain the timing of the singulated apples, a timing conveyor (FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided to positively control the movement of each apple up the 'inclined portion of the alignment mechanism 24 and to aid in centering the apple transversely of the twisting conveyors.

The timing conveyor 120l comprises a pair of drive sprockets 122 keyed to a drive shaft 124, and a pair of driven sprockets 126 keyed to a driven shaft 128 and disposed in planar alignment with associated ones of the drive sprockets. The shafts 124 and 128 are journalled in bearings 130 bolted to the upper frame members 65. Chains 132 are trained around the planar aligned pairs of sprockets and cooperate to support a plurality of evenly spaced, transversely extending pusher support bars 134.

A plurality of pushers 136 are rigidly supported on alternate bars 134 of the conveyo-r 120 and each pusher includes a stabilizing tongue 138 having a slot 139 (FIG. 3) therein within which the following support bar 134 is slidably received. It will be recognized that each alternate pusher supporting bar 134 carries one pusher for each lane L, and that the stabilizing tongues 138 engage the next adjacent bar thereby holding apple contacting arms 140 o-f the pushers substantially normal to the path of movement of the timing conveyor. As best shown in FIGURE 4, the forward and rear surfaces of each larm 140 are V-shaped and aid in centering the apples transversely in their associated lanes L.

The timing conveyor 120y is driven in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3), by drive means soon to be described, at the same speed as the processing conveyor 32 and slightly slower than the low speed twisting conveyor 82. Thus, each apple to be aligned will be confined between two of the pushers and the adjacent guide rails 64 and will be advanced upwardly through the orienting mechanism 24 at the same speed -as the processing conveyor 32.

Since both twisting conveyors 80' and 82 are moving in the same direction and are moving faster than the timing conveyor 120, each apple will tend to move upwardly along the inclined supporting surface against the V-shaped apple contacting surface of the preceding pusher 136, while gravity will tend to cause the apple to roll down the inclined surface against the V-shaped apple contacting surface of the Ifollowing pusher. During this time the speed difference between the two twisting con veyors 80 and 82 will apply torque to the apple vtending to rotate the apple about an axis normal tothe inclined surface of the twisting conveyors. These forces acting on the apple cooperate to rotate the apple until a flat spot of the apple, i.e., the stem end or the blossom end of the apple, comes to rest upon the supporting surface of the twisting conveyors 80 and 82. When in this stable position, the difference in speed of the twisting conveyors acting on the stable apple is not suicient to upset the stable condition of the apple.

The aligned apple is then moved either by the downstream pusher 136, or by the two twisting conveyors 80 and 82 which support the apple, to a dead plate 144 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which extends transversely to the con-I veyors and resists movement of the apple until the following pusher 136 pushes the oriented apple over the dead plate 144. It will be appreciated that the dead plate 144 delays the apple until the downstream pusher 136 advances it past the dead plate in proper timed relation with other operating components of the apple processing machine.

After being pushed over the dead plate 144, the apple moves onto the spacing conveyor 25. The spacing conveyor comprises three longitudinally extending endless belts 152 for each lane L. Each belt 152 is trained around a toothed drive pulley 154 (FIG. 3) keyed to a drive shaft 156, and around a toothed driven pulley 158 keyed to -a driven shaft 160'. The shafts 156 and 160I are journalled in pairs of bearings bolted to the main frame 74 of the machine.

The upper runs of the belts 152 extend through slots 166 (FIG. 4) in a horizontal extension 60o of the oor 60 and are slidably supported by a slide plate 167 bolted to the iloor extension 60a. Guide rails 64a, which are extensions of the rails 64, retain the apples within their respective lanes L. The upper runs of the belts of the spacing conveyor are driven toward the right (FIG. 3) at a speed slightly faster than the speed of the timing conveyor 120 so as to space adjacent apples in each lane a suicient distance to permit operation of the transfer mechanism 30 with- ,6 out interference between the jaws thereof and the next downstream apple. The spacing conveyor 25 advances each apple, in turn, onto the aforementioned dead plate 26 for reception by the associated jaws 28 of the transfer mechanism 30. The transfer mechanism then places the oriented apple into one of the pockets 34 of the main processing conveyor 32.

The processing conveyor 32 comprises a pair of drive sprockets 170 (FIG. 8) keyed to a drive shaft 172, a pair of driven sprockets 174 (FIG. 3) keyed to a driven shaft 176, and a pair of idler sprockets 178 keyed to an idler shaft 180. The shafts 172 and 176 are journalled ln bearings bolted to the main frame 174. The idler shaft 180 is journalled in bearings 184 mounted for vertical adjustment on the main frame 74 so as to apply the proper tension. to endless chains 1,86 and 188 which are trained around planar aligned ones of the sprocket 170, 174 and 178 disposed on the left and right sides (FIG. 2) of the apple processing machine 20, respectively. The previously mentioned conveyor flights 36 (FIG. 6) having the pockets 34 formed therein, are bolted to transversely aligned links of the chains 18'6 and 188.

The upper runs of the processing conveyor 32 and the spacing conveyor 25, and the lower run of the timing conveyor 120 are all driven in timed relation toward the right as viewed in FIGURE l by a main drive system 192 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The main drive system 192 receives its power yfrom a motor 194 (FIG. 2) which drives a speedchange mechanism 196 by a belt drive 198. The output of the speed-change mechanism 196 is coupled to a cam shaft 200 (FIG. 1) journalled in the main frame 74 of the machine. An inclined shaft 202, journalled in bearings 204 bolted to the frame 74, is driven from the cam shaft 200 'by meshing bevel gears 206 and 208 which are keyed to the shafts 200 and 202, respectively. The lower end of the inclined shaft 202 has a bevel gear 2019 keyed thereon which gear is in meshing engagement with a bevel gear 210 keyed to the drive shaft 172 of the processing conveyor 32 thereby completing the drive to the main processing conveyor.

The driven shaft 176 of the processing conveyor 32 has a large diameter gear 212 (FIGS. 1 and 4) keyed thereon, which gear meshes with a small diameter gear 2'14 keyed to a crankshaft 216 that extends transversely of and is journalled on the main frame 74 of the machine. The gears 212 and 2114 are of such a size that the crankshaft 216 is driven one complete revolution each time a flight 36 on the processing conveyor 3'2 moves a distance equal to the spacing of the flights.

The spacing conveyor 25 is driven from the crankshaft 21'6 by a gear drive 218. The gear drive 218 includes a drive gear 220 (FIG. 3) keyed to the shaft 216 and a driven gear 222 keyed to the drive shaft 156 of the spacing conveyor 25.

The movable shufes of the shule feed singulator 22 are connected to an arm 224 (FIG. 1) that is keyed to a shaft 228 journalled in bearings 230 bolted to the frame 74 of the machine. A second arm 226 that is keyed to shaft 228 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 231, while the other end of the link 231 is pivotally connected to a crank pin 2'32 secured to and projecting outwardly from a disc 234 that is keyed to the crankshaft 216. Thus, each revolution of the crankshaft 216 will cause the shuffle feed singulator 22 to move a transverse row of apples into the orienting mechanism 24. l

The timing conveyor is driven from the crankshaft 216 (FIG. 4) by a chain drive 236 which includes a sprocket 238 keyed to the shaft 216, a sprocket 240 keyed to the shaft 124, 'and the chain 242 trained around the sprockets. The sprocket size is selected so that one transverse row of apples are moved onto the spacing conveyor 25 each time a flight 36 of the processing conveyor 32 moves a distance equal to the spacing between these flights.

The transfer mechanism 30, (FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 5) is provided in order to transfer each apple from the deadplate 26 (FIG. 3) into one of the pockets 34 of the continuously moving processing conveyor 32. The transfer mechanism 30 comprises a substantially vertical oscillating frame 260 which includes a pair of upstanding arms 262 (FIG. 3) and 264 (FIG. 1) keyed at their upper ends to a shaft 266 journalled in bearings 268- bolted to the main frame 74. A pivot shaft 270 is connected to the lower ends of the arms 262 and 264. The pivot shaft 270 pivotally supports one end of a generally horizontal frame 272 which includes a pair of longitudinally extending arms 274 and 276 interconnected by a transversely extending angle member 278.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, each pair of jaws 28 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 280 which includes a pair of vertical plates 282 and 284 Welded to an angle spacer 286. The angle spacers 286 are bolted to an elongated, transversely extending angle member 288 and are positioned in alignment with their associated lanes. In order to maintain the lower edges of the brackets 280 substantially horizontal during operation of the transfer mechanis-m 30, the two end brackets 280 are pivotally connected to the adjacent arms 274 and 276 by bolts 290. The lower ends of upright stabilizing arms 292 and 294 are bolted to the transverse angle members 288 near the ends thereof, and the upper ends of the arms are pivotally connected by links 296 and 298, respectively, to the arms 262 and 264 of the oscillating frame 260. Thus, it will be seen that the links 296 and 298; the horizontal arms 274 and 276; and the vertical arms 262, 264, 292 and 294 cooperate to define a parallelogram linkage.

Each pair of jaws 28 (FIG. 5) comprises a generally T-shaped actuating lever 300 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 302 supported by the associated bracket 280. One arm 304 of the actuating lever 300 has one of the jaw elements 28a bolted thereto, and another arm 306 of the lever 300 has a cam follower 308 journalled thereon. A bell crank 310 is pivotally mounted on a pin 312 supported by the bracket 280 and includes a forked arm 314 which engages the cam follower 308. A second arm 316 -of the bell crank 310 has the other jaw element 28b bolted thereto. Thus, actuation of the lever 300 will cause each jaw element 28a and 28b to move equal amounts in opposite directions.

In order to actuate each pair of jaws 28 in timed relation with the movement of the processing conveyor 32, a jaw cam 322 (FIG. 2) is keyed to the cam shaft 200 and pivotally actuates the rocker arm 324 (FIG. l), which rocker arm is pivoted on a shaft 325 journalled in bearings bolted to the frame of the machine. The rocker arm 324 is connected to one end of a bell crank 326 by a link 327. The bell crank 326 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 266, and its other end is pivotally connected by a link 328 (FIGS. 3 and 5) to a lever 330 keyed to the shaft 270. A plurality of levers 332, one for each lane L, are keyed to the shaft 270 and each lever is pivotally connected to the actuating arm 334 of the associated T- shaped actuating lever 300 by a telescopic link 336.

Each link 336 comprises a tubular member 338 that is pivotally connected to the arm 334, and a rod 340 that is pivotally connected to the associated lever 332. A pin 342 secured to the rod 340 extends through slots 343 in the tubular member 338 and acts as a stop for one end of a compression spring 344. The other end of the spring 344 abuts one of a pair of lock nuts 346 screwed onto the tubular member 338. Thus, it will be seen that the pivotal movement ofthe shaft 270 through a predetermined arc in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 3 and 5) will cause movement of the link 336 toward the left (FIG. 3) causing the jaw elements 28a and 28b to move toward each other and grip an apple. After the apple has been gripped, the spring 344 will permit continued pivotal movement of the shaft 270 without movement of the associated jaws.

The contour of the cam 322 is diagrammatically illustrated in the transfer mechanism timing diagram shown 8 in FIGURE 24. In this diagram, each ten `degrees of cam travel is illustrated along the horizontal axis, and the vertical displacement of the jaw opening and closing curve 322:2 represents the separation of the jaw elements when an apple is not positioned therebetween. It will be appreciated that each complete revolution of the cam 322 is completed while the processing conveyor is moving approximately four inches.

The Vertical frame 260 is oscillated back and forth in timed relation with the movement of the components of the machine by a cam 350 (FIG. 2) keyed to the cam shaft 200 and having a cam contour 350a as illustrated in FIGURE 24. The cam 350 pivotally actuates a rocker arm 352 journalled on the shaft 325. A link 353 pivotally connects the rocker arm 352 to a lever 354 keyed to the shaft 266.

Similarly, the several pairs of jaws 28 are raised and lowered in timed relation with the movement with the other components of the machine by a cam 356 (FIG. 2) keyed on the cam shaft 200 and having a cam contour 356a as illustrated in FIGURE 2A. The cam 356 pivotally -actuates a rocker arm 358 journalled on the shaft 325. A link 359 pivotally connects the rocker arm 358 to an arm 360 which is keyed to a shaft 362 journalled in bearings 364 bolted to the frame of the machine. A pair of substantially horizontal arms 366 are keyed to the shaft 362 and are pivotally connected to the arms 274 and 276 of the horizontal frame 272 by a pair of telescoping links 368. The links 368 are similar in construction to the links 336 and therefore will not be described in detail.

In order to assure that all apples are properly oriented in the associated pockets 34, one or more operators may be positioned between the transfer mechanism 30 and the stemming and coring unit to orient any apple which is not supported on one of its ends.

After the orienting mechanism 24 has oriented each apple so that it is supported on one of its relatively at ends, and after the transfer mechanism 30 has transferred each apple and placed it in one of the pockets 34 of the conveyor 32 on one of its ends, each apple in turn must be registered with the apple stemming and coring unit 37 (FIG. 8). Each apple is first centered at the centering station CS of the unit 37, then aligned and stemmed at the stemming station SS, thereafter realigned and cored at the seed cell station SCS, and finally washed to remove the core material therefrom at the washing station WS.

VIn order to properly register each centering mechanism 38, stemming unit 42, and coring unit 46, with the associated pockets 34 of the continuously moving conveyor 32, the stem units are supported by the oscillating carriage 52 best shown in FIGURE 7. The carriage 52 comprises a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically extend-l ing side members 382 of irregular shape, only one being shown in FIGURE 7. As diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 7, the side members 382 are each in the form of plates with one member being positioned parallel to and spaced slightly outward from one side of the processing conveyor 32 and the other member being spaced slightly outward from the other side of the conveyor. Although in practice, the side members 382 are provided with cut-outs, as illustrated in FIGURE l to lighten the carriage 52, the side member 382 has been shown in FIGURE 7 as a solid plate for clarity of illustration. The side members are interconnected by transversely extending channel members 384, 386, 388, 390, 391, 392 and 394 to provide a rigid carriage construction.

The carriage 52 is mounted for oscillating movement by a pair of forward rocker arms 396, and by 4a pair of rear rocker arms 398. The upper ends of the rear rocker arms 398 are keyed to a shaft 400 journalled on the frame 74 of the machine, while the lower ends of these arms are each pivotally connected to the adjacent side members 382 by pins 402. The forward yrocker arms 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PROCESSING APPLES OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS DEFINING A POCKET WITH AN APERTURE THEREIN, AND SUPPORTING AN APPLE ON ONE OF ITS FLAT ENDS, SAID APPLE HAVING THE STEM MATERIAL REMOVED THEREFROM AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL CAVITY THEREIN, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE CARRIER DISPOSED ABOVE SAID POCKET, A CORING UNIT CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER, A CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING CUTTER ON SAID CORING UNIT ROTATING ABOUT AN AXIS CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF SAID APERTURE, SAID CUTTER HAVING A CUTTING EDGE MOVABLE IN A CYLINDRICAL PATH, MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID CUTTER FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CUTTING EDGE MOVES IN A CYLINDRICAL PATH HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THAT OF SAID CYLINDRICAL STEM CAVITY TO AN EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN SAID CUTTING EDGE MOVES IN A CYLINDRICAL PATH HAVING A DIAMETER IN EXCESS OF THE DIAMETER OF THE STEM CAVITY TO SEVER THE SEED CELL FROM THE APPLE, SAID CUTTER HAVING A TRANSVERSE SECTION WITH A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THAT OF SAID CYLINDRICAL STEM CAVITY AND AN AREA IN EXCESS OF THAT OF A SEMI-CYLINDRICAL SEGMENT OF SAID DIAMETER, AND MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID CARRIER TO CAUSE SAID CUTTER TO LOCATE AND ENTER THE STEM CAVITY OF THE APPLE WHEN SAID CUTTER IS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECENTERING THE APPLE PRIOR TO SWINGING THE CUTTER TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION. 